App Profile: Best Cryptic Crosswords

srb.sub

Rating: 5/5

You know you have a good one when you worry about getting to the last puzzle. What happens if there's no update? What happens when there are no more puzzles to solve? Fortunately, this app gives you six packs with fifty puzzles in each pack. Like all puzzles, some will be more challenging than others. If you're an American (like me), there are some British place names that you'll struggle with but you'll be richer for the knowledge and experience you gain. I can't go back to doing American-style crosswords. Except for puzzles by Will Shorts, Am-style isn't a challenge unless you want to check how many synonyms you know.

MoeKowbel

Rating: 4/5

I sought out this app after completing another cryptic crossword app by Teazel. That one I enjoyed but thought could have been more challenging. This one is indeed more challenging, but chiefly because many of the answers are particularly British: the name of a Liverpool football team, a British newspaper, a bird or plant known by different names in other English-speaking countries, etc. Those who have lived in the UK will more likely be familiar with these things, as might well-read Anglophiles, but it can be a bit frustrating to agonize over a cryptic clue only to eventually discover you struggled to put the pieces together because the answer was some local Brit trivia you’ve never heard of. Also, unlike the other Teazel crossword app, this one lacks an “Explain Clue” feature — a disappointing oversight. Those caveats aside, the puzzles are a fun challenge.

Rating: 5/5

This is the only all-cryptic crossword app that isn’t just too easy. Sadly, I’m almost finished with all the puzzles so really hope they’ll do an update with more before I run out 🫣